Cop involved in fatal shooting of Latoya Bulgin charged with murder
Two police officers attempt to close a police issue van after placing the body of Latoya Bulgin into the back alongside tyres.
KINGSTON, Jamaica — The policeman who fatally shot Latoya “Buju” Bulgin in Granville, St James, on May 17 has been charged with murder.
Constable Andrew Wilson appeared before the St James Parish Court on Wednesday after the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) ruled that charges should be laid following an investigation by the Independent Commission of Investigations (Indecom).
The constable was denied bail and ordered to surrender his travel documents. He was also instructed not to interfere with any witnesses connected to the case.
The matter is scheduled to return to court on June 16, 2026.
Bulgin was reportedly transporting residents to a protest over the fatal police shooting of 17-year-old Tjey Edwards, which had occurred in the community days earlier, when she became involved in a confrontation with police.
Surveillance footage of the incident, which circulated widely following the shooting, showed Bulgin seated behind the wheel of a Toyota Voxy after the vehicle was stopped by police in Granville Square. The footage appeared to show the officer firing in her direction while she remained inside the vehicle.
Shortly after the shooting, the officer was interdicted by the police high command pending the outcome of investigations.
In an initial report, the police alleged that Bulgin had threatened to run over the officer who discharged the firearm.
The CCTV footage also captured events after the shooting, showing Bulgin being removed from the vehicle feet first and placed on the ground. A second officer later assisted in lifting her by her arms and legs before she was placed in the rear of a police pickup truck. The officers were then seen struggling to secure the vehicle’s tailgate.
The incident sparked unrest in the community. On the following day, residents mounted roadblocks using discarded appliances, tree branches and other debris at several intersections, while fires were lit in some sections of the area in protest.
According to Indecom, 65 law enforcement personnel have been charged in matters arising from its investigations since January 2024. Of that figure, 10 officers were charged in 2026, including nine members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force and one correctional officer.
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